Cody Gakpo transfer decision made as Man City submit £80m bid to Liverpool

Liverpool have rejected an £80million bid for Cody Gakpo from Manchester City, talkSPORT understands.

The forward is now set to remain at Anfield beyond Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline.

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It is the Reds’ intention to keep hold of Gakpo, with an exit never guaranteed to be sanctioned despite the player being open to a move.

A deadline day departure is unlikely due to the lack of time left for Liverpool to sign a replacement.

Their need to bring in a successor is seen as a key stumbling block as opposed to the financials of a potential deal.

As for City, they intend to complete the signing of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

A move for Iliman Ndiaye could also be pursued despite a deal being agreed between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton for the playmaker.

Gakpo’s Liverpool future

Gakpo started, and got an assist, in Liverpool‘s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

However, with Bradley Barcola coming into the club there has been speculation over his future.

Tottenham have been the club showing the most interest in Gakpo this summer.

But now City have ramped up their pursuit of the Dutch international in recent days.

Despite formal talks with Liverpool over a deal, though, their offer has been knocked back.

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talkSPORT verdict

Speaking on Saturday, talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs said: “Manchester City in the last few days have gone really big on Cody Gakpo. It’s taken the player a little bit by surprise because for much of the summer, it was Tottenham and Cody Gakpo. He’d spoken to Roberto De Zerbi.

“But our information is that Cody Gakpo favours Manchester City.

“As a consequence, this is expected to develop. I actually think that Tottenham now realise they can’t do that deal. Do they turn to Iliman Ndiaye as a result?

“Bradley Barcola comes in, as we exclusively revealed this morning, for £106million with £17million in add-ons. 

“It may come down to the player realising even if they don’t add now another attacker, Victor Munoz has come in and Rio Ngumoha needs a pathway.

“Gakpo maybe in previous seasons could have looked out wide, looked in the centre. But now up front, it’s Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Behind them, it’s Florian Wirtz.

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“So I think he seems to believe that even if it’s not now, it might be the beginning of the end.

“This was kind of what Luis Diaz thought when Liverpool wanted to keep the player, but eventually they sold him to Bayern Munich.

“Cody Gakpo has got a big decision to make. From Liverpool’s perspective, if they were to sell, they know they’re bringing in more money. 

“It might mean that they can overpay for an Ismaïla Sarr or a Yankuba Minteh. Then two attackers will come in as well.”

The 27-year-old signed for Liverpool from PSV in 2023 for around £44m.

He signed a new long-term contract with the club last summer.

Gakpo also has 51 goals in 182 games in all competitions for the club.

More Liverpool signings?

Asked by talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface after his side’s 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest whether he’d be happy with his squad should the Barcola deal go through, Iraola said: “I think now we need to be patient. We don’t know what’s going to happen.

“There are still some days [left] in the market and obviously there are going to be movements. We will need to analyse when this happens.

“I’m looking forward to being in the second half of September and knowing what we have, and then making definitive plans with this.

“But the competition works like this – the rules are the same for everyone.

“It’s uncomfortable in terms of uncertainty until the market closes, but now it’s just a matter of a couple of days, so we will wait.”